How to Read a Course Description

Concurrent Registration

Some course prerequisites can be taken during the same term as the course for which it is the prerequisite. For example, a student can complete DIET 1269 prior to enrollment in DIET 1271, or the student can take both DIET 1269 and DIET 1271 during the same semester (concurrently).

Co-requisite

A co-requisite is a course that a student must be enrolled in at the same time as the course requiring the co-requisite. It is listed in the course descriptions as "Co-req:"

Course Number and Class Title

Each course is designated by a department (such as ENGW, English Writing), a number, and a title. Courses numbered from 0 to 0999 are developmental and do not count toward degree requirements. Courses numbered 1000 to 2999 are college-level and apply toward certificate and associate degree program requirements.

Credits

One credit equals one hour of class time per week for the duration of the semester. Courses are offered for fixed credits and for variable credits. A fixed-credit course is one whose hours are determined by the nature of the course as approved by faculty governance. A variable-credit course means that a student will determine how many credits a class will be worth in consultation with the instructor. Variable credits are seen in independent studies, internships, cooperative education experience, and other such courses.

Description

The course description reflects the course’s main content. It also gives information such as laboratory or clinical hours, repeat policies and other class-related requirements.

Fall, Spring, Summer

The terms in which the course will be offered.

MnTC Goal

If the class satisfies one or more goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), the course description will reflect it. While the credits awarded for a class will be counted only one time, the class can be applied toward all of the goal areas as reflected in the course description. Topics courses (those numbered 1900 and 2900) cannot be used to satisfy MnTC Goal requirements.

Prerequisite

A prerequisite is a course that a student must complete in order to enroll in another course. Students are responsible for the prerequisites and placement test requirements for all classes.

If a student registers for a class but does not meet the prerequisites, the College reserves the right to remove the student from that class and provide no refund.

"Eligible for" means a student's placement score placed the student into the course, or the student completed the prerequisite, or the student transferred an equivalent prerequisite course to Normandale.

For mathematics courses, prerequisites must have been completed within 24 months before the date the course begins. => More about Prerequisites

Recommended

Some courses reflect coursework or other preparation the faculty has recommended. Such preparation is not required prior to enrollment in a class, but students may find the background knowledge helpful.